discontinued colonoscopy

[Alisonj]

Where is the best place to find current rules on coding a screening colonoscopy that was discontinued because the provider was unable to advance passed the sigmoid colon due to tissue obstruction. A biopsy was done at the sigmoid colon. I have found things that say add modifiers to the colonoscopy code and other places say code as a sigmoidoscopy. Thank you!

 

[rlmiller]

Check with the payer. Some payers follow the CPT guidelines for coding incomplete colonoscopies, while other payers do not.

 

[jfolz]

Check the CPT book

I believe if a colonoscopy was the intended procedure, the CPT book indicates that if the instrument makes it to the splenic flexure or any point beyond, it is to be coded as an incomplete colonoscopy. If the splenic flexure is not able to be reached, it goes to sigmoidoscopy.

 

[surfergirl]

code as a sigmoidoscopy.